10 Food & Drink in La Rioja That You Shouldn't Miss

Tobelos Bodegas y Viñedos is a careful project that was born with the new millennium. A singular construction of minimalist and innovative style that breaks with all the schemes of the classic and modern constructions. The winery is located on top of a hill, which offers stunning views of the vineyard, the Ebro valley and the mountains. Our philosophy is based on reflecting the typicity of the Rioja Alta area in our wines, the terroir, pampering the quality of the grapes. We count on 40 ha of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura and Garnacha blanca. The vineyards are located in Briñas, Labastida and San Vicente de la Sonsierra, the coolest vineyards in Rioja, producing wine with an atlantic style.

In 1890, La Rioja Alta SA was founded by five families sharing a common passion for wine. It was the start of an ongoing quest for excellence that their descendants still pursue. Since then we have managed to extract the best from the marriage of our tradition in wine ageing, to state-of-the-art technology in grape fermentation. Our wines (Viña Ardanza, Gran Reserva 904, etc.) have become an international reference for the finest Rioja wines.

Since the beginning of my exporting career I have long dreamt of having my own small "bodega", where I could make a few bottles of wine of the best quality possible. Briones, in the heart of the Rioja Alta, gathered all the conditions I was looking for: old steep vineyards of Tempranillo grapes, chalky soil and a climate showing a marked Atlantic influence. Declared a town of historic and artistic merit, Briones is where we decided to site our bodega. Twenty years ago, we restored an old 19th Century house on the outskirts of the town. On the adjoining land we built facilities for vinification, barrel and bottle ageing and planted a small experimental vineyard. Now, as one of the smallest and youngest wineries in Spain —our first vintage was 1994— our wines are among the most prestigious in the country, and we are exporting them to over 30 markets. This encourages us to grow, not in quantity, but to constantly improve our style; how to get the best from each grape and each barrel. To continue to enjoy our wine-making. -Miguel Merino

We are in the heart of Rioja Alta, a short distance away from Haro and Briones. Wine is deeply rooted in the history of our small village, as evidenced by its noble houses built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Churrumendi Hill, Ollauri's highest point, offers stunning views of the River Ebro valley, between the Sierra de la Demanda peaks and the limestone walls of Sierra Cantabria and Toloño mountain ranges. Today, with the Murúa family at the helm, Bodegas Ollauri-Conde de los Andes brings back an age-old tradition. It was in 1894 when Federico Paternina built the modern cellar where his ancestors had been making and storing wine since the 15th century. After successive changes in ownership that have marked recent decades, Julián and Javier Murúa have begun a new era.

Marques de Murrieta is an older than 165 years-old winery where the deep respect for the history and the tradition finds a perfect balance with the focus on the future. Its origin dates from 1852 when Luciano Murrieta y Garcia -Lemoine produces the first fine wine from Rioja and is the first one to export it. He acquires the Ygay Estate and builds his emblematic Ygay Castle. In 1983 Vicente Cebrian Sagarriga, tenth Count of Creixell, takes over the project and after his death in 1996, his children, who are currently responsible of such an ambitious and endearing family business that they strengthen day after day with its presence in the different continents. The uniqueness and quality of the Marques de Murrieta wines is determined, to a great extent, by the singular caracter of the Ygay Estate, 300 hectares of own vineyards located around the winery, which allow the absolute control of the raw material. L

Tritium winery is a XV century old winery recovered by Francisco and Javier, both friends and the 4th generation of wine makers in their families. Their wines come from the amazing old vineyards their grand parents planted 100 years ago. They believe in Terroir and their wines are exactly the expression of their ancient knowledge.

If you want to discover the true taste of Rioja, there is no better place than Campo Viejo winery. You will see how wines are made, discover our environmentally friendly practices and enjoy a wine tasting session of our favourite vintages. During the visit, you will learn about the history of Campo Viejo, our innovative winery with one of the most impressive barrel ageing rooms in the world, our commitment to environment and much more.